BATTLEGROUNDS may never come to PS4 if the latest PUBG rumours are to be believed.

PUBG is in danger of never releasing on PS4, as Microsoft reportedly expresses an interest in acquiring the company that owns Battlegrounds.

The Battlegrounds PS4 release date remains a mystery, and things could be further complicated if a new report on Polygon is true.

According to the report, Microsoft is interested in potentially buying Electronic Arts, Valve and PUBG Corp.

The latter seems to make the most sense, especially with Microsoft's timed console exclusivity deal in place for PUBG Battlegrounds.

"Some of the names being thrown around as possible acquisitions by Microsoft are, frankly, astounding, even unthinkable," reads the Polygon report. "But the fact that they are doing the rounds is instructive.

"The most recent one we heard (from a reliable source close to Microsoft) was, in fact, Electronic Arts. We also heard a whisper about Valve and about Korean outfit PUBG Corp., which Microsoft last year signed to a timed exclusive for its hit survival shooter, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds."

Buying PUBG Corp. would almost certainly spell the end for Battlegrounds on PS4.

PUBG Battlegrounds Desert Map Miramar

Mon, December 4, 2017

BATTLEGROUNDS fans will be able to check out the Desert map on the test servers soon.

PUBG could soon face competition from Electronic Arts, as EA shows an interest in the Battle Royale genre.

Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson said that EA studios were thinking about new and innovative ways to play.

Speaking about PUBG, Wilson said: "I think what you discover in this industry is that there's a lot of great vectors that drive player engagement, and one of those is just innovation in the core gameplay mechanic.

"What the team with PUBG have done is really delivered a new level of innovation that changed the way people were playing first-person shooter games.

"And we're very respectful and complimentary of what they've been able to do. We've seen that continue with Fortnite. It's clearly a mode of play that the global FPS population is interested in."

Wilson said that EA's Battlefield teams are looking at ways to innovate core gameplay and map design.

"And given that we have some of the best shooters in the marketplace, you might expect that we're also thinking about new and innovative ways to play," he continued.

"And that doesn't mean just kind of [making] PUBG replicas inside the Battlefield universe, but it does mean that our Battlefield teams - and I talked a little about this in the prepared remarks - are looking at how they innovate in every aspect of the game, including core gameplay and map design."

Wilson would also claim that Battlefield 5 has "astonishing visuals and gameplay", before promising innovation at every level.

"Through FY19 and beyond, we are planning stunning new additions that will continue to grow the depth, breadth and quality of experiences we bring to fans around the world," he said.

"Our DICE studio will deliver the next Battlefield, with innovation at every level, incredible stories at the core, astonishing visuals and gameplay that will captivate every Battlefield fan."

Perhaps this means a PUBG-style Battle Royale mode in the next Battlefield... unless Microsoft purchases both companies.